Best of British Celebs at The Pride of Britain Awards 2026

ODE

Britain’s celebrities turned the spotlight on inspiring members of the public at The Pride of Britain Awards 2026 with athletes, dancers, actors, models, an astronaut and a Money Saving Expert all in attendance.   In order of appearance in this recap: Shirley Ballas talks about the new ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ hosts, astronaut Tim Peake reveals what scares him more than going to space, Daisy Tomlinson and Zara McDermott on surprise birthday plans, Money Saving Expert Martin Lewis is happy to spend money for The Pride of Britain Awards, Olivia Attwood reveals her inspirations, Warwick Davies has a pitch for Netflix, Karen Carney rates her life-changing year, Calum Scott has a song that makes him cry, while Chris Kamara is thrilled to still have a friendship with the Prime Minister Andy Burnham.    This group and so many more were in attendance forThe Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Awards with P&O Cruises. Watch the event Thursday 22nd October at 8.00pm on ITV1 and ITVX. Report by Burtonj. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

Transcript

00:00Oh, so you got the memo?

00:01I got the memo.

00:02For a short period of time back on Earth, I was 5'11". I was loving it.

00:05What a surprise for me!

00:07Still being alive, I guess. That's a win.

00:09It's cold, isn't it?

00:10He's got his big coat on.

00:11Oh, he's got his big coat on.

00:13Is that alright?

00:15Perfect, thank you so much.

00:31Welcome to this evening, which is always like one of the best events of the year because there's no nominees,

00:36only winners tonight.

00:37So can I ask you, what's made you feel like a winner in 2026?

00:40What's been your biggest win this year?

00:42I think what my mother says every morning when I say, how are you doing?

00:44She says, still breathing.

00:46Every time you get up in the morning, you have to thank God that you're still here to share another

00:51day and to do good for anybody that passes your path.

00:53That's so nice. And congratulations on another very well received season of Strictly as we are in the middle of

00:59at the moment.

01:00Is it a strange year, though, where it's the hosts that are under the microscope more than any other year,

01:04I guess?

01:04They're the hostesses with the mostesses. I'm enjoying every minute with them.

01:08We're all on the same floor. We have rooms next door to each other.

01:11We're constantly bumping into each other. It's very personable. It's very kind.

01:15And I think they're doing a grand job and settling in nicely.

01:18Did they seek you out for any advice before it all kicked off this year?

01:21I don't think they need any advice from me. I think they're doing just fine on their own.

01:24You're so bloody humble, Shirley.

01:26Thank you so much for your time. I overheard that you are here to present an award tonight.

01:32Yes, for the King's Trust.

01:34You're a man who's done a lot of incredible things in your life.

01:36Do you get any nerves, though, before you go up and speak in front of a group of people?

01:39I'm always more nervous about this kind of thing than flying a spacecraft because, you know, we get years of

01:44training for that.

01:46But no, tonight's all about celebrating other people's success.

01:49And actually, from that point of view, I can just sit back and enjoy and just be inspired by people's

01:54amazing stories.

01:55That's what's so brilliant about this award. We are inspired by the British public and the amazing things they do.

02:00Who has been an inspiration to you this year? Who's inspired you?

02:04Gosh, I mean, I've been inspired by all sorts of people.

02:07Lots of people. I think for me, in my business, it was the Artemis 2 crew.

02:12Four individuals who became the furthest humans to travel from planet Earth this year.

02:16And what they did was simply amazing. And the images they brought back.

02:21And that in itself, looking back at our home planet from beyond the moon, that's a pretty inspirational thing.

02:26While I've got you, can you dispel or approve some of the astronaut myths that are out there?

02:31Do you really get shorter or taller from an extension exposure to space?

02:37Do you come back at different heights than what you left?

02:39So you get about one to two inches taller in space because all the muscles and ligaments in your back

02:46relax because of weightlessness.

02:48But that reverses itself after about two days. So for a short period of time back on Earth, I was

02:53five foot eleven.

02:54I was loving it. And now, now look at me. So no, you get crushed back down to size within

02:59about two days.

03:00I don't know if, you know, these things come to you again, but they, you know, NASA or some space

03:06agent comes to you again and asks you to go up.

03:07Are you always available to go to space for us?

03:10Absolutely. Yeah. In fact, I'm working with an American company called Axiom Space at the moment.

03:14And they're building the next space station after ISS, which is really exciting.

03:19They're also building the spacesuits that are going to be used on the surface of the moon in a couple

03:22of years time.

03:23So, yeah, if a mission comes up with them, I would gladly take it.

03:27I'll cross my fingers for you because it is an inspirational thing that you do.

03:30And finally, for me, what is the 2027 plans? And is that part of it for you?

03:352027, well, an exciting year. We've got another Artemis mission paving that way to get humans back on the surface

03:40of the moon again.

03:41We'll probably be covering that. I will as a BBC podcast, which we did this year as well.

03:45So that's exciting. So all sorts of different things going on, but busy time in space at the moment.

03:50What a funny sentence. Tim, thank you so much for your time. I appreciate you.

03:54Take care. This is a manic one. It's always busy. There's always so many celebs here, but the main thing

04:00is this isn't about us.

04:01This is about the people that really matter, the people that really put themselves out to do things for other

04:07people that need it, you know, and to celebrate the winners.

04:10Well, on that as well, and because obviously it's an inspirational evening, we hear a lot of inspiring stories.

04:15Who's inspired you in 2026? Who have been the biggest out to inspiration?

04:20Oh, she inspires us. My nan, every day. I would say your nan as well. She is incredible.

04:26She's so inspirational. That perfect answer.

04:28All right. What about, this is a nice one too, because it's an evening where there's no nominees, only winners.

04:34What's your biggest win been in 2026? What have you felt like a winner?

04:39Gosh, what's the biggest, biggest win? I don't want to jinx anything, but I may have found my dream home.

04:47Yes, but we're not going to jinx anything.

04:49I'm going to say, you've given me the best answers of like these questions so far. Good personal answers.

04:54Thank you. Also, we've seen a lot of like inspiring people up and down the carpet right now.

05:00Are you looking forward to seeing anyone or catching up with anyone who you know is attending this evening?

05:05Oh, well, Daisy's other sister, Lottie, is here tonight.

05:09We're waiting to bump into her. Wherever she is.

05:11We're waiting to bump into her, yeah.

05:12I'm going to bump into yourself. Text her. I don't know who you are.

05:14Yeah, I know. I need to do somewhere on this crazy red carpet.

05:18We've got a few months left for the end of the year.

05:21What of both of your work should we look out for in the next few months so we can get

05:25excited about?

05:26I mean, I've got a documentary series coming out.

05:29Well, I'm doing a documentary series following the police at the moment up in Lancashire.

05:33So that's coming out either end of the year or beginning of next year.

05:36So I'm kind of wrapping that up towards the end of this year, which is really exciting.

05:41I'm just excited for Christmas. I'm so ready for Christmas now.

05:45I'm so ready for Christmas. It's also my 30th this year.

05:47Yeah, that's exciting. In December. Which is exciting.

05:49Right. I don't know if you want to keep those things a surprise, but 30th is a big one.

05:53How are we celebrating the 30th?

05:55I'm actually not doing anything crazy. I'm doing just family, low key.

05:59I'm not really like a party person.

06:02And I feel like when it's your birthday, I don't know if anyone else gets this, but I always...

06:06Pressure. Pressure to talk to everyone. If you invite all your friends, it's like a lot of pressure.

06:10So I think I'm just going to do a little low key family thing.

06:13I'm going to tell you right now, that's not an acceptable answer for what you do for your 30th.

06:16You need to go big and like go mad. You're going to have to force her to go big.

06:20I know. I know. What a surprise for me.

06:22But the best birthdays are like the ones that are true to yourself.

06:26Do you know what I mean? Instead of forcing yourself out of your comfort zone.

06:29Definitely.

06:30Oh, there is a surprise and it works and I've actually just ruined it already.

06:33Maybe. Maybe Daisy knows about it.

06:35Can I just say, you're dressed very smartly today, which immediately made me think,

06:39are you allowed to buy expensive suits like that?

06:41Or do you always have to money save expert your own clothes?

06:43It's a very good question.

06:45So, first of all, you'll note I have a tie on.

06:48I never wear a tie. It's a big, big brand thing for me because I don't want to look corporate.

06:53But this is Pride of Britain and if you're going to show respect at any point,

06:56showing respect on Pride of Britain is the right thing to do.

06:59As for suits, normally, most of my suits, I keep them to high street and I don't go high end.

07:08This is an exception. It was bought in the sale a few years ago, but this is one of my

07:12very few more expensive suits.

07:14Again, it's Pride of Britain and weddings. That's when it's used.

07:18Love that. And it is a very nice suit. I did overhear that it's your first time at the Pride

07:22of Britain Awards.

07:23Well, I don't know if you know the emotional turmoil which you let yourself in for because it's always an

07:28emotional evening.

07:29How do you...

07:31Oh, so you got the memo?

07:32I got the memo. I've got my gorgeous daughter with me, who I don't put on camera, but who's 13.

07:37She's got a box of tissues as well. We are prepped. We know what we're doing.

07:40Always come prepared. It's a great... I was never a scout. I should have been, though.

07:43I have two questions for you. Obviously, this is always an inspirational evening because we hear about the great British

07:48public and the inspiring things they do.

07:50Who has inspired you this year, Martin?

07:52This year? That's a very interesting question. I have to forgive me because I go very accurate.

08:00Who has inspired you since the 1st of January?

08:04Yeah, if it was the 31st of December, it doesn't count, I'm afraid. So, yeah, let's go this year.

08:08I'm trying not to go sporting because that's a little bit too obvious.

08:12Well, there are a lot of athletes on the carpet and a lot of footballers and all that as well.

08:16So, anyone who's inspired you...

08:17Give me a second to come up with a good answer.

08:19I'll stop talking.

08:23I got an email recently from a woman who was absolutely petrified to do anything financial,

08:29but I'd spoken about tracing her pension.

08:32She realised she'd had a pension 30 years ago at a place that she wasn't really sure.

08:37And she said she wasn't sure online. She went online.

08:39She took the hit and the work to go and do it.

08:42And she discovered a pension worth £18,000 and then £2,000 a year from going and taking a little

08:49bit of activity.

08:50And I know admin anxiety is a real thing, especially for people who have mental health problems.

08:55And some people climb walls that the rest of us don't perceive the walls.

08:59And I think for that woman, it was a wall and she got to the top and there was a

09:02crock of gold.

09:03What's better than that?

09:03Get in there.

09:04Well, actually, that might lead into my...

09:06It's all about going back on brand, wasn't it?

09:08Well, finally for me then as well.

09:10This is another great event because there's no nominees, only winners.

09:12And that's who we're celebrating.

09:13But I want to know what's your biggest win of 2026 as well?

09:17When have you felt most like a winner?

09:20I've got a budget next week.

09:23I want to see them get rid of standing charges on energy.

09:26I want to see them reverse the repayment threes on the student loan threshold.

09:30If I get either of those, that'll be my biggest win of the year.

09:32I don't know if it'll happen, but my fingers are crossed.

09:34My fingers are crossed too.

09:35Thank you so much for your time, Martin.

09:36That's class.

09:36Cheers.

09:37Already overly manic, isn't it?

09:40Manic.

09:40How are you feeling attending these Pride of Britain Awards tonight?

09:43Do you know any of the stories we're about to hear?

09:45They're so special.

09:47I've heard a couple of them, but I mean, every year comes around, you're just blown away

09:50by the everyday heroes that you meet.

09:53People are so incredible and puts a lot of things in life into perspective, I think.

09:57This is one of those lovely events where no nominees, only winners.

10:01Yes.

10:01So can I ask what's made you feel like a winner this year?

10:03What's your biggest win in 2026?

10:04Oh, what's my winner?

10:05Just getting through it.

10:06That's my win.

10:08Mate, how has this year been?

10:09Everyone's been like, I'm alive, haven't I?

10:11This year's been crazy.

10:12A lot of change for me.

10:14So I think just embracing change, new beginnings.

10:17Yeah, lots to be happy about, but it's been a busy year.

10:20What about inspiring stories?

10:22Obviously, a lot of inspiration here at the Pride of Britain Awards.

10:24Who has inspired you this year?

10:26Who's inspired me this year?

10:26Are there anyone you know?

10:28You know, I think the women in my life have inspired me.

10:30Our resilience.

10:32It's a female thing I think that a lot of us are born with.

10:36Welcome to the Pride of Britain Awards, which is obviously one of the nicest events

10:39because no nominees, only winners.

10:41Yes.

10:42Can I ask you, what's made you feel like a winner in 2026?

10:45What's been your biggest win?

10:47Biggest win in 2026?

10:49Still being alive, I guess.

10:51That's a win.

10:52Still enjoying life, you know, if I can.

10:55How about professionally?

10:56Obviously, you're pretty prolific as an actor and as a presenter now as well.

11:01Yeah.

11:02What have we been most proud of in the career-wise?

11:05I'm most proud of my work in Star Wars, various projects to do with Star Wars.

11:10My quiz show, Tenable on ITV.

11:12Very proud of that.

11:14What else?

11:15My directing work, my documentary authorship.

11:21Wow, there's a lot.

11:22Even a lot wins.

11:23Yeah.

11:23My autobiography that I wrote, bringing entertainment to people all over the world.

11:31As you have.

11:31And I love that.

11:33Have you seen how much Tenable has been picked up online?

11:35Like I see a lot of like, not ripples, but a lot of homages to Tenable online.

11:38Do you enjoy seeing like the fan put together kind of games of Tenable?

11:42Oh, it's great.

11:43Yeah.

11:43I love that people try and enjoy it themselves.

11:46I mean, so many people want to see it back again.

11:48I'm going to try and persuade Netflix to do a version.

11:50Maybe that's where some money is now.

11:52I don't know.

11:53But I love doing the show and people love watching.

11:56I mean, I see people all over the place.

11:58The unemployed, students, old people, kids.

12:02Everyone enjoyed it.

12:03It was one of those shows you get around the telly together and enjoy.

12:05We're all here tonight.

12:07We're going to be inspired by a lot of inspirational stories.

12:09I think so, yeah.

12:10Tear jerking stories too.

12:11But who has been an inspiration to you this year as well?

12:15Who's inspired me?

12:18Wow, these questions I'm getting on the carpet are so hard.

12:20Normally it's about what project you've been doing.

12:23But that's, who's inspired me this year?

12:27You'd like to think you could look to your leadership of the country and be inspired.

12:30But there's nothing inspirational there at the moment at all.

12:35Seeing our king doing his thing is inspirational.

12:38And his son as well, William.

12:41You know, I love seeing them work as royals out there.

12:45So I think they're inspirational.

12:46They're still kind of putting Britain on the map and making us proud.

12:52What else?

12:54I guess that's it.

12:55And finally for me, obviously this is a tear-jerking evening.

12:58Are you one who looked at these stories from the Pride of Britain Awards before and shed a tear?

13:01Have you got your tissues ready?

13:03I don't read up on them beforehand, but I'll just experience them as they come on the night.

13:09And obviously applaud loudly and stand up and just let them enjoy their moment.

13:17Because, you know, they deserve all the glory they're going to get tonight.

13:20Hi, hi, hi.

13:22Really well, thank you, Stuart.

13:23I'm speaking to Lucy Bronze, so I had to give Lucy some love.

13:27Well, I love this evening because obviously there's a weird celebrity football hybrid happening on this carpet.

13:34Really?

13:34You tread both of those boards at the moment, obviously.

13:36No, I don't class myself as a celebrity.

13:39I would say I was a footballer, but definitely not a celebrity.

13:42I'm just a normal person, I'd say.

13:45You are one of my all-timer pundits on telly.

13:48Well, I worry because you're obviously a Strictly come dancing professional.

13:51Are you a dancing professional?

13:52You're not going to leave the life behind, are you?

13:53I'm not.

13:53I'm definitely not a professional.

13:55Definitely not.

13:56I do not see my tango.

13:58It's so bad.

13:59No, but I loved Strictly.

14:01It was absolutely incredible, but I'll always be a footballer, I think.

14:05Well, as a Strictly veteran now, do you watch the new series with the new fresh eyes?

14:11Oh, yeah.

14:12No, I watch it with a takeaway and a vino, so it's very different how I watch it, but it

14:18was amazing.

14:19I watched it on Saturday, absolutely loved it, sat on my sofa.

14:22It was weird.

14:23It was like I'd never done the show.

14:25I was back to my old fan where I sat at home and was like, that's amazing, they look amazing,

14:29or I wonder what's happening.

14:31And then I have to kind of go back and was like, oh, that's what I did last year.

14:34So, yeah, I mean, this time last year I was in the show walking this red carpet, which is weird.

14:40And if I knew, I didn't know the journey that was going to happen for me on that show.

14:45So maybe someone in the new cast is going to walk this carpet tonight and in a few months' time,

14:50things are going to change for them.

14:51Has anyone sought you out for some insider tips or like how to win Strictly and all that?

14:56No.

14:57No.

14:57To be fair, I haven't seen anyone from the new cast.

15:00I've seen the old cast for last year, which was so nice.

15:03I saw Amber, saw Levoire.

15:05I'm sure there'll be more here tonight.

15:07But it's always nice seeing the cast that we did it with,

15:10because when you're in the show, you're kind of passing ships all the time.

15:13So now we just see each other and we're like really proud and supportive of each other.

15:17So it's really sweet.

15:18The Pride of Britain Awards, one of those brilliant events where no nominees, only winners.

15:22Amazing.

15:23What's made you feel like a winner in 26?

15:25Oh, wow, a winner.

15:27That's a very good question.

15:29You know what?

15:30I've done a lot of charity stuff over the last couple of months.

15:33And last week I did something for Nordhofen Robins and we raised, me and Tear and we raised,

15:38well, not me and him.

15:40Everybody on that night raised about £300,000.

15:42So that for me, similar to tonight, celebrating amazing people, helping other people.

15:48I think that's the way to win in life.

15:51That's wonderful.

15:51And obviously we're here to be inspired too by, you know, people of Britain.

15:55Yeah.

15:56Who's inspired you this year?

15:57Who's been an inspiration?

15:59That's a very good question.

16:00Again, who's inspired me?

16:03A guy called Kwaku, a music sound therapy teacher.

16:06So he's inspired me.

16:08Just the great work that you can have an ability to make people's lives better and make people smile.

16:13That's the greatest gift you can ever give.

16:15That's wonderful.

16:15Karen, thank you so much for your time.

16:17Keep up the good work.

16:18You're doing amazing.

16:18As are you.

16:19Thank you so much.

16:20See you guys.

16:21Bye.

16:22Are you not freezing?

16:23It's cold, innit?

16:24I've got my big coat on.

16:25Oh, he's got his big coat on.

16:27Where are you from the North?

16:28I'm in Osbury, yeah, yeah.

16:29I'm in Hulse.

16:30I've already fanboyed over Chris Kamara already, a borough of legends who's been here.

16:34Yeah.

16:34But hey, fellow northerner, here we are.

16:36Here we are.

16:37Welcome to the Pride of Britain Awards.

16:38Thank you very much.

16:39It's a very inspirational evening.

16:40Who has inspired you this year?

16:42Who's inspired me?

16:44That's good.

16:45I mean, my mum is my absolute hero.

16:47She inspires me all the time.

16:48That's always the right answer.

16:49It is.

16:49And I'm at a point in my life now where I want to be a dad and I want to

16:53have kids.

16:54And looking at my mum is just the best example of what I want to be to my children.

17:01My dad wasn't around when I was younger, so my mum stepped in.

17:04She's been there through thick and thin and through things that I didn't even know I'd

17:08be able to navigate like my issue of my sexuality, navigating fame, you know, all these things.

17:13And I just I couldn't love my mum any harder if I tried.

17:16And so I want to reflect that back and have my kids and hopefully they'll feel like that about me.

17:21That's so amazing.

17:22And also a Pride of Britain Awards.

17:24It's a tear jerking evening.

17:25And what's funny is that you're dancing on my own and Robin's dancing on my own make me cry.

17:30What's a song that makes you cry?

17:32A song that makes me cry?

17:34Do you know what?

17:35I, for some reason, when I was younger, I fell in love with Romeo and Juliet with Leonardo DiCaprio

17:41and I can't remember. Is it Kate Winslet? I'm not sure.

17:43No, Clay Baines.

17:44Yes.

17:45And there's a song on there, Desiree, Kissing You.

17:51I don't know why that makes me, like, so upset.

17:54But it just gets me in the feels.

17:56I don't know, it must be the string section or something.

17:58But, yeah, it just wells up every time.

17:59It resonates.

18:00Well, on that as well, obviously, I don't know if you've been to the Pride of Britain Awards before.

18:03A few years ago.

18:04Are you prepared for the onslaught of tears, which is going to come from all the inspirational stories we're here

18:08tonight?

18:09Oh, yeah. A hundred percent.

18:09I cannot wait to just celebrate everybody that's done amazing things.

18:15In some regards, maybe some unsung heroes.

18:17And I was just saying to a gentleman down there that it's very easy in this culture to put down

18:23and to criticise.

18:24And I think Nights Like Tonight just completely flipped that narrative.

18:27We're here to celebrate people, to shine a light and to just enjoy, you know, seeing these people being celebrated

18:34for the things they've done.

18:35A hundred percent.

18:36And finally, it's another nice one because no nominees, only winners.

18:40What's the biggest win that you've had this year?

18:41What's made you feel like a winner in 26?

18:44What's made me feel like a winner in 2026?

18:47I think going on my third tour of the world has been insane.

18:51I mean, I never thought I'd be able to tour outside of Hull.

18:54And yet I've done the biggest shows I've ever played.

18:57I've played in arenas.

18:59And I'm just, you know, sometimes when you second guess yourself and you question yourself, am I doing the right

19:05thing?

19:05Do people still care?

19:07Having a tour like that has just, it's just made me so inspired to want to write more and to

19:12soundtrack people's lives.

19:13As I have been doing for the last 10 years and long may it continue.

19:16Yeah, pretty much.

19:17Here's some more wins in 2027.

19:18Thank you very much.

19:19Thank you so much, Colin.

19:19Appreciate you.

19:20Enjoy your night.

19:20Thank you so much for your time.

19:22Pleasure.

19:22Can I quickly tell you that you're one of the Holy Trinity for me.

19:25Bob Mortimer, Chris Rea, and yourself, Borough Legends, my favorite three.

19:30Oh, thank you.

19:32What about Stefan McGovern?

19:35Who is one of the only people I've ever chased down just to tell her how great she is as

19:38well.

19:39Oh, she is absolutely fabulous.

19:41There you go.

19:41That's my Middlesbrough Mount Rushmore, you four right there.

19:45Welcome to this evening.

19:47Can I ask you what has inspired you within 2026?

19:51Who has inspired you this year?

19:53Oh, there's so many people.

19:56I've been given another opportunity, so I'm taking advantage of that.

20:03But tonight will be an emotional roller coaster.

20:08And people, ordinary people, going above and beyond.

20:13And at last, getting credit for it, nothing could be better.

20:18It's such a nice one.

20:19It's such a nice one, too, because it's an awards ceremony with no nominees, only winners.

20:23Yeah.

20:23So can I ask what's made you feel like a winner in 2026?

20:26Oh, well, I've been lucky, dead lucky.

20:30I managed to do the Great North Run.

20:34I thought those days of me completing a run were gone forever.

20:41So I'm taking that one.

20:43And so you should.

20:45How weird to run alongside the Prime Minister at the Great North Run.

20:48I know.

20:48That was a weird addition to the race as well.

20:50I know.

20:50I knew Andy when he was mayor of Manchester, and he's a big Evertonian.

20:58So I've seen him at the ground.

21:01And now he's Prime Minister.

21:03I thought he'd elbow me.

21:05But he's still happy to see me.

21:08He's brought Peter Reid along with him to a couple of events.

21:11I know.

21:11Where's your invitation?

21:13Exactly.

21:14Is he in there now?

21:15I have no idea, actually, but hopefully, yeah.

21:18Chris, thank you so much for your time.

21:19My pleasure.

21:20Enjoy tonight as well.

21:20Thank you so much.

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